When the Companies Act 2006 came into force in the UK, company directors were legally bound to fulfil certain duties or risk facing severe repercussions, including dismissal or disqualification by court order. Here is an overview of some of the general duties to give...
If you own a commercial property and are acting as a landlord, you may at some point wish to take back the possession of your property. Often, this will be due to your tenant’s breach of their lease terms or contract, for example by failing to make rent payments on...
Traditionally, new entrants to markets have used joint ventures for several reasons. Often, one party has more experience in supplying certain skills and the other may have a wider number of contacts in the sector, or two individuals who have worked together to...
There are times in any company when removing one of the directors appears to be the best course of action for all of the parties involved. However, knowing how to go about it can be challenging. There are a number of pitfalls and risks associated with attempting to do...
For many people, copyright law as a concept isn’t always clear. Too often, uncertainty exists around whether the copyright is owned by them, or what could happen if it’s copied without their permission. In order to better navigate the complexities of copyright law,...
The last decade has seen a boom in social media use, globally, and now brand owners are looking to take advantage of the evolving marketing environment and promote their goods or services in the best ways they possibly can. In line with recent trends,...
Duration and renewal of a UK trade mark A registered trademark can provide relatively long lasting protection, staying in place for ten years. However, the registration perod will come to an end, which can be worrying for...
If you’re considering purchasing a business, you need a solicitor you can trust. It is often a daunting prospect to buy a business, with many complex legal matters to handle. However, with the right solicitor on board, you can be confident that the transaction will...
Phantom Share Options are used for employee benefits and provide a great way to offer incentives to current or potential staff. Find out more about them here. Finding ways to reward your team or incentivise new starters can be a headache, especially when you are...
What are the options for a creditor who has a judgement order against a debtor, who is either unwilling or unable to satisfy a debt? A creditor may seek to explore several enforcement methods to recover the debt. This article focuses on the procedure and...
Many companies have suffered substantial financial hardship since March 2020. In recent weeks there has been significant talk of economic recovery. Although it is anticipated that businesses will resume regular trading activity in the coming weeks, there are many...
Statutory demands can be an effective and inexpensive tool when seeking to recover an undisputed debt. It is a formal written request for a debt to be paid. However, on its own or if not executed properly a statutory demand will be ineffective. This article focuses on...
When it comes to vaccinating your workforce, you may be tempted to make it a mandatory process so that you can ensure the highest levels of safety. However, there is a very fine line between acting in everyone’s best interests and breaking the law and keeping on the...
The UK’s Supreme Court has ruled that under current circumstances Uber drivers are classed as part of a company workforce rather than as an individual working on a self-employed basis. This decision is likely to have hefty consequences for the revolutionary taxi app,...
The global pandemic has caused chaos in every industry, and the purchase of dental practices is no exception. Research has shown that the average time between a buyer making an offer, and the completion of the purchase of a dental practice has increased. In many cases...
Many small businesses are often busy taking care of all the important aspects needed to run on a daily basis, however one of the aspects often overlooked by newly registered or young companies is trademarking. A trademark is an essential piece of intellectual property...
It’s no secret that big business has slowly but surely swallowed up smaller competitors over the decades. National supermarket chains like Asda and Tesco have overtaken small local grocers and shops, large clothing stores like Primark have brought cheap and cheerful...
Are you ready for the new online pharmacy system from PCSE Online? Here we’ll guide you through the new changes designed to make pharmacy applications much easier. The way pharmacies are bought and sold is changing. You may already be aware that in 2019 the PCSE...
With the COVID-19 outbreak continuing to disrupt the economy and businesses across the UK, employers are legally obliged to maintain records of staff, visitors, and customers to help NHS Test and Trace inform those who may have been exposed to the virus. Employers in...
Working from home may reduce your employees’ exposure to COVID-19 but it also makes them easy targets for cybercriminals. Relying on online video-conferencing and collaboration tools, as well as cloud-based storage and software, has exposed many companies’ weak spots,...
Pharmacy transactions can often be a prosperous investment for entrepreneurs who are willing to put in the hard work. Given that healthcare demand is constant (rather than seasonal), there is often a good business case for owning a pharmacy. However, setting up a new...
More employers are having to make redundancies due to COVID-19, but how should they be handled? Here we take a look at getting the process right. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some employers have had to consider making redundancies amongst their...
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a host of questions for employers who are wondering about their rights and obligations. Here you’ll find some answers. Employers have many questions about their rights and obligations when it comes to their workers and workplaces...
The government has put in place a job support scheme to replace the furlough scheme, but what should employers know about it? Read on to learn more. For business owners and employees alike, the removal of the furlough scheme at October’s end was a concerning prospect....
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has created an emergency filing service, the details of which were published on 26 June 2020. Originally drafted in April 2020, the new regulations provide breathing space for companies who normally file accounts...
The recent pandemic has created enormous financial pressure for many businesses, particularly with regards to cashflow. Although the first peak of the infection seems to have passed, the economic impact is expected to continue to be felt by businesses for some time....
Minimising contact is seen as vital to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Employers have a very significant role to play in the process but it can be challenging balancing up privacy and data laws with the need to protect other employees. Here’s a...
The furlough scheme is credited with saving many jobs, supporting businesses while they navigated the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. However, the scheme was never intended to stretch on forever, and businesses are now contemplating what the future looks like as...
COVID-19 has forced the government to act rapidly, bringing in swingeing changes in a number of sectors. Many anticipated a new code of practice would be forthcoming for the commercial property sector, with the expectation that it would be mandatory. What arrived on...
The government has issued advice to employer on how to manage COVID-19 and the support that is available. While this is subject to change at little notice, these FAQs are based on the latest information published and cover some of the areas which haven’t been as...
The COVID-19 crisis has led to financial concerns for many businesses so it wasn’t a surprise when the Insolvency and Corporate Governance Bill was read in Parliament on 20 May 2020. Known as the ICG Bill, it placed a moratorium on winding-up petitions to prevent a...
Brand loyalty and awareness are very important for all types of business, however, the more consumers recognise a brand, the more likely that brand is to experience infringement by competitors. Trade mark copycats are, therefore, relatively commonplace. Designing a...
If you are using a trade mark for your business or organisation which has not been registered you still have some rights under common law. While it is always best to register your trade mark, unregistered rights receive protection under the tort of passing off. This...
If a third party has been using your registered trade mark without your authorisation, you can obtain remedies for the infringement of your mark. A trade mark’s owner is eligible to recover damages that relate to the acts of trade mark infringement in question. These...
A trade mark’s owner may recover damages that relate to any acts of infringement. The amounts that can be received in such cases will depend on how the damages and losses are calculated. Taking professional advice is therefore important in order for the claimant to...
Have you made changes to the rent or lease on a commercial property rental contract? Check our guidance to HMRC rules about VAT and stamp duty liability. Lease extensions and rent variations are nothing new, but the recent pandemic has brought them under the...
Are you a dental practice considering the sale of an NHS contract? We provide a guide on how to sell your NHS dental contract and the various options available. If you’re in dental practice and have an NHS contract, it is possible to sell and transfer the rights, but...
We have considerable experience in advising on all aspects of insolvency litigation, including acting for insolvency practitioners, companies, individuals and directors. Insolvency is when businesses or individuals are unable to repay their debts. It can be a...
Are you thinking of buying a care home? The care home industry is highly regulated so check out our guide to read about the essential factors you should consider. In the next 25 years, the number of people aged over 85 is expected to increase twofold, placing even...
The coronavirus pandemic has already impacting the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries – and it doesn’t look like it’ll be over any time soon. The unpredictable nature of the virus has essentially caused the travel...
When a business changes owner, its members of staff will find that they are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations, otherwise known as TUPE. It applies to all UK businesses, regardless of their size, number of employees or...
With the coronavirus forcing us to take on new ways of living including social distancing, queueing outside for the weekly grocery shop and having to transform our dining room tables into a home office, we are finding more and more challenges arising in everyday...
It was revealed on 8th April 2020 that in an effort to focus NHS England regional team efforts where they are needed most, Primary Care Support England would be temporarily suspending all new market entry, market exit and consolidation applications, backdated to 25th...
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges that businesses and individuals have never had to consider until now. With each unpredictable day unfolding, new announcements, regulations and rules are brought in – and it is affecting every single one of us, especially...
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc amongst business owners and individuals – and unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’ll be fully over any time soon. As each day unfolds, we hear new announcements and changes to legislation, and it is a particularly confusing...
Until a few weeks ago, nobody had even heard of the word ‘furlough’ – but now, it’s something we’re seeing in the news and all over the internet every single day. The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down...
It’s an uncertain time for most at the moment thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those running a business. For some businesses, particularly SMEs, times are even tougher. Struggling businesses are facing financial dire...
With the vast majority of the population in lockdown, we are facing unprecedented and uncertain times. However, the world continues to turn and with that we’re having to figure out new and different ways of working. There are documents – contracts, deeds, legal...
With the entire nation having to adapt to the major disruption that the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought along, it feels like life has been temporarily put on hold. Almost everybody is having to work from home if they can, and children are being home-schooled. The...
Covid-19 is starting to have a significant impact worldwide, affecting supply chains and daily commercial operations. While the short-term implications have seen many businesses close their doors entirely or switch to remote working where possible, the long-term...
